Kawhi Leonard's Trainer Sues LA Clippers Over Injury Treatment.
Randy Shelton, former personal trainer for NBA star Kawhi Leonard, 33, has filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles Clippers, claiming the team mishandled Leonard's injuries and retaliated against him for raising concerns. The lawsuit alleges "unsafe and illegal treatment for injuries" related to Leonard's ongoing recovery.
According to court documents, Shelton contends he was terminated after voicing worries about the "hazardous" treatment Leonard received. Leonard suffered a significant ACL tear during the 2021 NBA playoffs and underwent surgery in July 2021. Shelton claims that while the expected recovery period for such an injury is about 730 days, the Clippers deemed this timeline "unacceptable."
As part of their strategy, the LA Clippers implemented a load management plan at the start of the 2022-2023 NBA season to aid Leonard's recovery. However, Randy Shelton alleges that the team violated this plan by allowing Kawhi Leonard to play "significant minutes" despite him experiencing "swelling and inflammation in his knees" following the first two games of the season in October 2022.
Court documents further indicate that an MRI revealed cartilage damage in Leonard's knee, yet instead of allowing the player ample time to heal, he was administered biologics for temporary relief. Shelton also claims the LA Clippers rushed Leonard's recovery after he allegedly ruptured ligaments in his right ankle on November 21, 2022, and withheld crucial health information from him.
In addition to wrongful termination, Randy Shelton has accused the LA Clippers of "discriminatory and harassing conduct." Shelton asserts that despite assurances of protection against retaliation, he did not receive the promised support after raising his concerns.
Randy Shelton was hired by the LA Clippers in 2019 with the intention of persuading Kawhi Leonard to join the team as a free agent. The two have a history from their time at San Diego State, where Shelton served as the strength and conditioning coach while Leonard was a student-athlete. Shelton alleges that the Clippers exploited his medical knowledge of Leonard, who was then with the San Antonio Spurs, during a period that raises questions of potential tampering.
The Clippers have responded to Shelton's lawsuit, stating: "Mr. Shelton’s claims were investigated and found to be without merit. We honored Mr. Shelton’s employment contract and paid him in full. This lawsuit is a belated attempt to shake down the Clippers based on accusations that Mr. Shelton should know are false."
As these legal disputes unfold, Kawhi Leonard remains sidelined at the start of the 2024-2025 NBA season due to ongoing knee issues. The specifics of his right knee inflammation were not disclosed until after Randy Shelton's termination from the Clippers in July 2023, adding another layer of complexity to an already turbulent situation.
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